Legal Help for Air Force Veterans Diagnosed With Mesothelioma

Air Force Veterans Exposed to Asbestos

We Help Those Who Control the Air

After being founded in 1947, the United States Air Force's primary mission has been to maintain air superiority. To keep this superiority, the Air Force has maintained a large arsenal of aircraft.

Maintaining such a large fleet has exposed millions of Air Force veterans to the dangers of asbestos.

The likelihood of an Air Force service member developing an asbestos-related disease is much higher than the American civilian population.

The Air Force is known for offering many career opportunities. Your MOS is just one of the factors that determine your asbestos exposure.

Your service period and where you were stationed will also determine the likelihood of service-related cancer.

Even if you served in the Air Force a long time ago, you are still at risk.

Diseases like mesothelioma and asbestos lung cancer can take decades to develop after exposure.

Veterans who served from the Air Force's inception through the 1980s run the highest risk of asbestos exposure. During this period, the Air Force was rapidly expanding. As the Air Force grew, so did its use of harmful asbestos materials.

Your time spent serving in the Air Force means that your diagnosis of mesothelioma or asbestos lung cancer is likely caused by exposure to asbestos.

Our law firm has the experience to ensure that you receive all the compensation and benefits you're due.

Find out instantly how much your potential case could be worth by filling out our Free Veterans Mesothelioma Case Value Calculator.

We Help Air Force Veterans Take Action

Any veteran who served before the 1990s worked with asbestos and is at risk of developing mesothelioma or asbestos lung cancer.

If you served in the U.S. Air Force and developed any cancer, we're here to help you understand your legal options and service benefits.

The following legal options may be available to you:

• Veteran's Benefits (If Diagnosis is Service Related)
• Asbestos Trust Fund Claims
• Asbestos Cancer Lawsuit (Not required in most cases)
• Administrative Defendants (Companies who settle without a lawsuit)
• Social Security Disability (SSD/SSI)

When you file an asbestos case with Dickey Law Firm, you never risk losing your Veteran's Benefits.

You will still receive all your existing payments and benefits while pursuing compensation from the asbestos companies.

We Go After Those Responsible - The Asbestos Companies

The Air Force and its veterans have not only kept our skies safe but have helped move our society forward with significant advances in technology. Now we're here to help our Airmen and women seek the compensation they deserve.

The Asbestos companies made and sold asbestos, knowing the harm it could cause our veterans. This makes the asbestos companies responsible for your mesothelioma or asbestos lung cancer.

When pursuing compensation for you and your family, we only go after those responsible-never the military.

Find out instantly how much your potential case could be worth by filling out our Free Veterans Mesothelioma Case Value Calculator.

How Air Force Veterans Were Exposed to Asbestos

Throughout their service, Air Force veterans could have been exposed to asbestos in many places. Not every MOS faced a high risk, but every Airman could have encountered asbestos in many different areas.

The Air Force relied heavily on asbestos, as it was an excellent material for fireproofing and insulation.

Asbestos was commonly used in fixed-winged and rotary aircraft, ground vehicles, and air force base facilities worldwide.

Aircraft

Asbestos was commonly used in USAF aircraft from 1947 until the early 80s. It was primarily used to protect the craft and its operators from heat and fire and found countless applications.

Areas where asbestos was used on aircraft:

• Brakes
• Torque valves
• Gaskets
• Cargo bay insulation
• Engine heat shields
• Cockpit heating systems
• Electrical wiring insulation
• Weapons delivery systems

Asbestos wasn't only used in both fixed-wing and rotary aircraft components but was also recommended for use in repairs. For example, asbestos gaskets could stop fluid leaks, and asbestos tape or paste could fill cracks formed by metal fatigue.

Because aircraft maintenance is highly regulated, airmen would perform standard maintenance and repairs on aircraft much more often than any other transportation method.

An example is the strict hundred flight hour requirement to change aircraft brakes, whether they need it or not. This enhanced maintenance schedule put mechanics, electricians, welders, and other ratings responsible for aircraft care at a much greater risk.

Maintenance members weren't the only ones at risk. Anyone who regularly traveled on aircraft, such as pilots and crew members, also faced the dangers of being exposed to asbestos simply by operating the aircraft.

Asbestos in Air Force Bases and Radar Stations

All Air Force bases and radar stations constructed before 1980 utilized asbestos materials. Asbestos could be found in roofing and flooring tiles, siding material, boiler and pipe insulation, floor tiles, and drywall materials.

Being stationed in these barracks or working on these bases could have exposed millions to asbestos.

These facilities were especially dangerous during maintenance or asbestos removal. The asbestos fiber would be disturbed and released into the air.

Firefighters that served these bases were also at a higher risk. Not only did they face disturbing the material during a rescue, but often their personal protective equipment would contain asbestos.

Asbestos in Ground Transportation

Similar to aircraft, asbestos-containing products were used in ground vehicles. Asbestos would be used in the brake pads, engine gaskets, engine firewalls, clutches, and heating systems. Anyone responsible for the maintenance of these vehicles faced a higher risk of being exposed.

Our dedicated team of lawyers has decades of experience tracking down asbestos exposure for Air Force Veterans. No matter your position while serving, if you were diagnosed with mesothelioma or asbestos lung cancer, we can find where you were exposed to asbestos.

Find out instantly how much your potential case could be worth by filling out our Free Veterans Mesothelioma Case Value Calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Could someone who lived on an air force base be exposed to asbestos?

Yes, anyone who lived on an Air Force Base may have been exposed to asbestos.

Since WWII, the Air Corps/Air Force has positioned bases worldwide to fly and maintain America's strategic airpower. Virtually all of these AFBs were constructed before 1980, which means they would contain asbestos materials. Also, Airmen and Airwomen performed maintenance on aircraft that released asbestos.

Could Veterans that served after the 80s be exposed to asbestos?

Yes, veterans of the Air Force and other branches are exposed to asbestos even after the 1980s.

The military infrastructure of bases, hangers, barracks, maintenance, and repair facilities all contain older equipment used asbestos. That is why Air Force veterans continue to be diagnosed with mesothelioma and asbestos lung cancer each year. Mesothelioma is a low dose disease, so it does not take much exposure to cause cancer.

How long can it take to receive military benefits for mesothelioma?

It can take a few weeks to a year to be awarded military benefits for mesothelioma. Sometimes disability is granted automatically, but often it has to be appealed. There are several types of military benefits that are available to veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma.

If you are turned down for any military benefit related to mesothelioma, you must consult our attorneys immediately.